Target killings: Compensation given to heirs of 700 victims
Commission announces free education for children of the deceased.
KARACHI:
If figures are any indication of what’s to come, then a breather from the violence engulfing Karachi might not be on the cards anytime soon. More than 700 people have reportedly been killed in targeted attacks during 2012, which is around 30 per cent higher than last year’s number of 476 victims - totalling the number of target killings in two years to 1,176.
These figures, based on claims for compensation, were shared on Tuesday by the compensation commission formed by Sindh government to look after families of the victims killed. Although the grounds for killings have been somewhat established based on political affiliation, ethnicity and religious beliefs, the commission has been unable to conclude who is behind the killings.
“Neither family members nor leaders of political parties are willing to disclose information about who carried out the killings when asked to give a statement,” said Justice (Retd) Zahid Qurban Alvi, head of the commission. “For the last two years, I have been trying to ascertain who are the people involved in the target killings in Karachi.”
He said, however, that the commission’s role is to ascertain the heirs of the victims to award them compensation, not to determine the reason of the killing. “But I will try to discuss this in the final report on this issue.”
Breakdown
Justice Alvi, flanked by leaders of political parties, policemen and other government officials, was addressing a press briefing at his office following a meeting on Tuesday.
According to him, most of the victims belonged to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party, and others
“Government has given Rs0.2 million to the legal heirs of each victim who was killed in a targeted attack. Also, Rs50,000 have been given as compensation to those injured along with Zakat through Baitul Mal,” said Justice Alvi.
Sindh government will pay for the education of two children of a family whose breadwinner has been killed in targeted killings. “The government will bear all expenses [of the children] till matriculation. Later, it can also be considered to continue their education till graduation,” said the former judge. A skill development programme will be also launched for family members of victims.
Regarding verification of victims, he said that political parties and other individuals submit their compensation claims at the commission office along with an FIR and post-mortem report. Later, the cases were verified through police and sent to the finance department so that the families could be compensated.
The commission was established in 2011. “This year, around 700 target killings have been recorded while a few cases are still pending,” said Justice Alvi, adding that the final report would be finalised by the end of this month. “Commission does not give compensation to policemen because government has its own internal mechanism. Cases of personal enmity are not considered for compensation.”
When asked about the alleged discrimination of giving more compensation to lawyers’ families than citizens who are killed, he said that the commission follows order issued by the government. “We can not cut or enhance the amount on our own.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2012.
If figures are any indication of what’s to come, then a breather from the violence engulfing Karachi might not be on the cards anytime soon. More than 700 people have reportedly been killed in targeted attacks during 2012, which is around 30 per cent higher than last year’s number of 476 victims - totalling the number of target killings in two years to 1,176.
These figures, based on claims for compensation, were shared on Tuesday by the compensation commission formed by Sindh government to look after families of the victims killed. Although the grounds for killings have been somewhat established based on political affiliation, ethnicity and religious beliefs, the commission has been unable to conclude who is behind the killings.
“Neither family members nor leaders of political parties are willing to disclose information about who carried out the killings when asked to give a statement,” said Justice (Retd) Zahid Qurban Alvi, head of the commission. “For the last two years, I have been trying to ascertain who are the people involved in the target killings in Karachi.”
He said, however, that the commission’s role is to ascertain the heirs of the victims to award them compensation, not to determine the reason of the killing. “But I will try to discuss this in the final report on this issue.”
Breakdown
Justice Alvi, flanked by leaders of political parties, policemen and other government officials, was addressing a press briefing at his office following a meeting on Tuesday.
According to him, most of the victims belonged to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party, and others
“Government has given Rs0.2 million to the legal heirs of each victim who was killed in a targeted attack. Also, Rs50,000 have been given as compensation to those injured along with Zakat through Baitul Mal,” said Justice Alvi.
Sindh government will pay for the education of two children of a family whose breadwinner has been killed in targeted killings. “The government will bear all expenses [of the children] till matriculation. Later, it can also be considered to continue their education till graduation,” said the former judge. A skill development programme will be also launched for family members of victims.
Regarding verification of victims, he said that political parties and other individuals submit their compensation claims at the commission office along with an FIR and post-mortem report. Later, the cases were verified through police and sent to the finance department so that the families could be compensated.
The commission was established in 2011. “This year, around 700 target killings have been recorded while a few cases are still pending,” said Justice Alvi, adding that the final report would be finalised by the end of this month. “Commission does not give compensation to policemen because government has its own internal mechanism. Cases of personal enmity are not considered for compensation.”
When asked about the alleged discrimination of giving more compensation to lawyers’ families than citizens who are killed, he said that the commission follows order issued by the government. “We can not cut or enhance the amount on our own.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2012.